Can I become a surrogate if I’m in the military?

Before we get started- we at Hatch thank you for your service! At Hatch we have been working with military families, both Surrogates and Intended Parents, for over 35 years.. While being a member of the United States military does not automatically disqualify you from surrogacy. It does bring some unique factors to consider. Our admissions team, match specialists and case managers have years of experience navigating these nuances and are confident that we can guide you through the process of applying, screening and the remainder of your surrogacy journey. Let’s dive into how this works!

Can I Be a Surrogate When I’m on Active Duty in the Marines, Army, Air Force, or Navy?

Unfortunately, these 4 branches of the US military are not particularly supportive of Surrogates embarking on journeys while they are on active duty. There are risks to consider such as:

• Complications with your Tricare insurance (which does not cover surrogacy) when you are the primary sponsor
• The possibility of being PCS’d (Permanent Change of Station) or re-stationed to a state that does not have surrogacy-friendly laws
• The possibility of deployment while not pregnant, but after matching.

Due to these challenges, at Hatch we cannot match Surrogates who are on active duty at this time.

Can I Be a Surrogate While in the National Guard or Reserves?

This depends on your specific branch and command, and it's something we review carefully with every applicant. Military policy on surrogacy varies by branch, and some branches have specific restrictions worth discussing with your commanding officer before applying. If eligible, we will require a clearance letter from your commanding officer confirming your status and non-deployable timeline once pregnancy is confirmed

Can I Be a Surrogate if My Partner Is in the Military?

If your partner is an active duty service member and they should need to PCS or relocate, you would not be permitted to relocate with them for the duration of the surrogacy. This is due to the legal parentage process and to ensure that your insurance plan will cover where you give birth and receive medical care. Your contract will outline specific travel restrictions. We will also take into consideration any recent travel you or your partner have had.

What if I Am a Veteran?

We have proudly supported many Veteran Surrogates through their journeys at Hatch. The key challenge is that VA benefits do not cover surrogacy so a surrogate-friendly insurance policy must be placed. The cost of that policy will be covered by your Intended Parents.

Are You Able To Obtain My Military Medical Records if I Gave Birth While Enrolled in Tricare/Using Military Facilities?

A challenge that can come up regarding candidates who were in the military during their own pregnancies, is gathering medical records. It can sometimes take longer to acquire records from military treatment facilities than from civilian hospitals. Providing detailed information and even keeping your own records can help us tremendously. We will make every effort to collect all records.

Other Frequently Asked Questions About Military Surrogacy

Does My Branch of Service Affect Whether I Can Become a Surrogate?

Yes. Policies vary by branch and by whether you're on active duty, in the National Guard, or in the Reserves. Our team will review your specific situation as part of the application process.

Will My Tricare Coverage Affect My Eligibility?

Tricare does not cover surrogacy-related care, so a separate surrogate-friendly insurance policy will need to be arranged, and the cost of that policy is covered by your Intended Parents.

Does Being a Military Spouse (Rather Than a Service Member) Affect My Eligibility?

It can, particularly around relocation and travel restrictions if your spouse is on active duty. Our team will walk through these factors with you during screening.

Does My Military Life Insurance (SGLI) Cover My Surrogacy Journey?

No, your SGLI coverage is separate and unrelated to surrogacy. As with any surrogacy journey, your Intended Parents will arrange and pay for a dedicated life insurance policy specifically covering the surrogacy pregnancy, in addition to whatever personal coverage you already carry through the military. These two policies serve entirely different purposes and don't affect one another.

How Can I Help My Journey To Go Smoothly as a Military Surrogate?

During the surrogacy you will have multiple lab, monitoring and ultrasound appointments so it is important to communicate that to your support system and ensure that you can make a commitment to those appointments. We will assist you in scheduling your appointments and will make every effort to work with your schedule. A military lifestyle requires dedication, organization, discipline and being proactive, all traits that will lend themselves nicely to a surrogacy. Surrogacy is a wonderful opportunity to be of service to others while making a difference for your own family. We thank you for your service and dedication.

What About Military or Veteran Intended Parents?

Military service doesn't just affect surrogates, many of the families we work with pursuing surrogacy are active duty service members, veterans, or military spouses themselves.

If you're an active duty service member considering surrogacy as your path to parenthood, a few things are worth planning for early. Deployment timing is one of the most important, since you'll want a plan in place for how updates, appointments, and the birth itself will be handled if you're deployed during your surrogate's pregnancy. Frequent relocation can also affect logistics, particularly around which state's laws will govern your legal parentage process, so working with your case manager to plan around a PCS is worth doing well before matching.

Tricare does not cover gestational surrogacy costs, since the surrogate is not your dependent and the pregnancy isn't your own. This means the same insurance planning that applies to any Intended Parent applies here too. Our team can walk you through what to expect and how to plan financially for your journey.

Whether you're active duty, a veteran, or a military spouse, we're honored to support your path to parenthood and understand the unique demands military life can bring to this process.